Seed-separator.



H. J. PIEPGRAS & B. M. HOLT.

SEED SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, I914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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HERMAN J. PIEPGRAS AND BENJ M. HOLT, OF CALDWELL, IDAHO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July ii, ieic.

Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,816.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we,

ems and BENJAMIN M. HOLT, citizens of well, in the county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved Seed-Separator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to seed separating machines, especially designed for separat-I ing weed seeds from grass seeds, the separation bemg carried out on the principle of dissimilarity of shape and surface of the seeds to be separated rather than the size of s or endless seed carrier C and a coacting brush D. This belt Gtravels around rolls 1 and 2 at opposite ends of the machine, and

the seeds.

The invention has for its general objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of seed separating machines so as to be thoroughly reliable and eflicient in use and comparatively easy to adjust for operation on seeds of difi'erent characters.

More specifically the invention has foritsobject to provide a novel form of endless belt or seed carrier in combination with a novelly arranged brush whereby the grass or similar seeds are separated from the weed seeds, it being understood that the.

grass and similar seeds are round and smooth, while weed seeds are more or. less rough or angular, which characteristics enable the weed seeds to be taken up by the belt and carried past the brush or brushes transversely of the belt is slightly inclined for facilitating the discharge of the grass seeds therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide simple'and justing the tension of the endless belt or seed carrier, means for adjusting the pressure 0 brush against the belt, of the length of the brush to the length of and also the inclination f the the belt and the pitch of the brush with re-j spect to the plane of the belt, whereby efficient operation is'possible on seeds having different ooeflicients of friction.

With such objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement.

set forth with parof parts which will be description and ticularity in the following claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which HERMAN J. Prioreffective means for ad-.

and also the angular relation at the top of nuts 15 whereby the rods can be moved and others 0f the seed carrier or belt; and Fig. 5 is a sectionalview, showing the separating ac tion of the belt and brush.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a fixed main frame of'any suitable construction, and B is an adjustable frame arranged within the main .frameand carrying a belt although the rolls 1 and 2 can be ad usted in vertical planes so as to change the, slope of the belt in order to place the front edge thereof at a lower level than the back edge, sothatgrass seeds can roll down the belt and discharge therefrom. In order to permit of this adjustment of the belt the shafts of the rolls are made in sections a, b and a united by universal joints 8 and 9', as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The, rear sections 0 of the shafts are journaled]. in bearings 10 and llwhich are mounted on a horizontal bar 12.capable of moving up and down. This bar is suitably guided on. the main frame and can be adjusted in any suitable manner, as for instance, bysuspension rods 13'wh ich pass throughbearing plates 14:

the main frame and vertically by the turning of the nuts to thereby enable the rear ends of the belt rolls to be raised or lowered. .j The bearings for the roll 2 are capable of horizontal have mounted in the back i, and in operation the brush is so positioned that the bristles are disposed at an angle to the plane of the the inclination of the belt, as well as the inclination of the brush bristles and the tension of the brush on the belt, will also vary according to the character of the seeds A special form of belt surface is required in order to provide for effective separation of the seeds wlth a coactmg brush. In the the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have belt. The brush is supported at its ends present instance the seed separating surface on rods 17 and 18 Which are united at the of the belt is roughened and is preferably 70 lower ends to the brush by hinge joints 19. made of rubber. The roughening is accom- The rods 17 and 18 are connected with the plished by vulcanizing the rubber while a top part 20 of the adjustable frame B, and canvas or equivalent mold or impression eleon the rods are nuts 21 and 22 which, by ment is maintained under pressure in conproper manipulation, can move the rods tact with the rubber, and after the vulcan- 75 downwardly or upwardly so as to vary the izing operation isv completed the canvas or pressure of the brush against the belt. To other impression element is removed, wherc adjust the inclination of the brush, suitable by there will be raised webs or ribs 0 which adjusting means are employed, such as are more or less sinoidal shaped, and be a screw 23 that is hingedly connected at 2 k tween adjacent ribs are grooves 0 which eX- 80 to the brush back d at a point below the tend transversely of the belt. In other hinges 19, so that by advancing or retractwords, the grooves constitute connected deing the screw rod 23 the inclination of the pressions or cells, and down the grooves the .brush can be changed about a horizontal round seeds are free to roll as the brush axis coincident with the hinges 19. The sweeps back these round seeds. The angular 8 screw 23 is threaded in a pivoted nut 25 carseeds or weed seeds are caught by the ribs, ried in the part 26 of the frame B. In the projections or webs c and are carried fortop part 20 of the frame B there may be ward under or through the brush bristles (Z, provided an arcuate slot 27 concentric with somewhat as shown in Fig. 5. The shape 25 the rod 17, and adjustable in this slot is and size of the depressionsor grooves, as 94) disposed the rod 18 whereby the longitudiwell as the ribs of the belt, will vary accordnal axis of the brush can be adjusted to any ing to the nature of the seeds to be sepadesired angle with respect to the length of rated. the belt, according to the nature of the seeds From the foregoing description taken in 39 to be separated. It is to be understood that connection with the accompanying drawing, $5

described the machine which we now 0011- 109 sider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the ma 5 to be separated. To prevent sagging of the belt at a point under the brush a table 28 is arranged under the upper run of the belt. This table is part of the frame B and. chine shown is merely illustrative and that I 's connected with the floating bearing-carsuch changes may be made when desired as 40 rying bar 12, and consequently when the slope are within the scope of the appended claims. 195 of the belt is changed the brush and table Having thus described our invention, will move at the same time. Adjacent the we claim as new and desire to secure by Letrear end of the belt and disposed under the ters Patent:

roll 2 is a suitable brush or device E which 1. A seed separating machine comprising removes from the belt the weed seeds that a movable seed carrier having a surface 119 are carried past the brush by the belt, so formed with a plurality of cells arranged that a clean surface will be presented at the in rows transverse to the line of movement receiving end of the belt. The seeds to be of the carrier and the adjacent cells being separated are supplied to the receiving end connected in the line of the rows, the adjaof the belt by a hopper F mounted on the cent rows being separated by a thin serpenmain frame and having its spout 28 distine rib of rubber and the carrier being inposed over the highest portion of the belt clined transversely to the direction of its the receiving end. The seeds are thus movement, whereby seeds drop off the lower dlscharged on this portion of the belt and edge of the carrier.

55 are carried forward to the brush, which ar- 2. A seed separating machine comprising rests the round or grass seeds, which, due to a traveling carrier inclined transversely to the slope of the belt, flow gradually to the the direction of travel whereby one longiand the upper The Weed seeds pass through provided with or under the brush and discharge into a suitably-disposed spout 30 arranged at the discharge end of the machine, and it is in this spout 30 that the brush E is arranged to as clean the belt from the Weed seeds.

surface of the carrier being transverse rows of pockets, the rows being separated by yielding ribs and a bristle brush pressed against the carrier for causing seeds of one shape to become lodged in the r pockets While arresting seeds of a difi erent 1m shape and causing them to roll down and oil the sloping carrier at the lower longitudinal edge thereof.

3. A seed separating machinecomprising an endless carrier having a rubber outer surface formed with transverse grooves separated by intermediate ribs or webs, means for supporting the carrier to slope transversely, a bristle brush bearing on the carrier and set with its length at an angle to the direction of travel of the carrier for causing certain seeds to lodge in the grooves and be carried past the brush while other seeds are arrested by the brush and caused to roll down and ofi the sloping carrier, the grooves being open at the bottom edge of the carrier.

4. A seed separating machine comprising an endless carrier having a rubber surface formed with rows of cells extending approximately transversely to the carrier and yielding ribs separating adjacent rows of cells, a bristle brush pressing on the said surface, means for adjusting the pressure of the brush on the carrier, means for adjusting the angle of the bristles of the brush with respect to the plane of the carrier, and means for adjusting the angle of the brush with respect to the direction of travel of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN J. PIEPGRAS.

WVitnesses to the signature of Herman J. Piepgras:

P. V. KELLY, ELMER BARR.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN M. HOLT.

Vvitnesses to the signature of Benjamin M. Holt:

CHATTEN BRADWAY, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

